Article: Candle Guide: What Is the Best Candle Wax?

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Oct 21, 2024Candle Performance

Candle Guide: What Is the Best Candle Wax?

Candles have come a long way from their humble beginnings.

Once a necessity, used to light homes and guide travelers, candles have since evolved into small everyday luxuries. We no longer rely on them for survival, but turn to them for ritual, mood, ambiance, and scent.

What was once made of tallow or beeswax has now been replaced with modern, purpose-driven waxes -- formulated for cleaner burning, longer-lasting flames, and stronger scent throw.

But not all candle waxes are created equal. Whether you're shopping for your first candle or adding to a growing collection, understanding the different types of candle wax can help you make more informed choices -- affecting everything from scent throw and burn time, to air quality and price.

Let’s break it all down.

A Quick History of Candle Wax

Candles have been around for over 5,000 years. In ancient times, they were made from materials like tallow (animal fat), beeswax, and even whale fat and were mainly used for light and timekeeping.

But as the world modernized and technology advanced, our relationship with candles changed. What was once a practical tool slowly became something more symbolic -- used not for necessity, but for comfort, ritual, and mood.

Today, candles come in a wide variety of waxes, including paraffin, soy, coconut, beeswax, and custom blends. And while they may look similar on the outside, the type of wax inside can make a big difference in how a candle performs, how cleanly it burns, and how strong it smells.

Why Does Candle Wax Matter?

Most people buy candles based on the way it smells or the way it looks (let's be honest -- who doesn’t love good packaging in an aesthetically pleasing jar?) But behind every pretty candle is one thing that can make or break your experience: the type of wax.

So ask yourself, has this ever happened to you?

You light a candle you were excited about, only to realize the scent is super faint and barely fills the room.
You discover a new favorite, but after just a few days, you've already burned through the entire candle.
You notice a black ring of soot around the jar every time you light it.

If any of that sounds familiar, chances are the wax played a major role.

Now, it’s not just the wax -- other factors like wick type, fragrance load, and vessel size matter too. But wax is the foundation. It directly affects everything from scent strength, burn time, how cleanly it burns, and the cost.

Here’s how different waxes stack up:

Cost: Paraffin wax is inexpensive, which makes candles made with it more budget-friendly. On the flip side, natural waxes like coconut or beeswax are pricier to produce -- so those candles often come at a higher price point.
Burn Time: Natural waxes like soy, coconut, and beeswax burn much slower than paraffin. That means your candle lasts longer -- more hours of fragrance and value for your money.
Scent Throw: Paraffin wax holds fragrance extremely well, offering a strong cold and hot throw (how the candle smells when it’s unlit and when burning). Natural waxes like soy and coconut typically have a softer scent unless blended with other waxes or formulated carefully. Beeswax, while clean-burning, has the lightest throw of all.
Soot: Natural waxes emit significantly less soot than paraffin. That means your candle jars stay cleaner longer, and your air stays fresher too. Don’t get me wrong -- you’ll still want to wipe down your jar eventually, but a soy or coconut wax candle will leave far less black residue than paraffin.
Sustainability: Paraffin is made from petroleum -- a non-renewable fossil fuel that contributes to carbon emissions and environmental harm. Soy, coconut, and beeswax, on the other hand, are renewable, plant- or bee-derived, and biodegradable, making them better for the planet overall. If reducing your carbon footprint matters to you, natural waxes are the way to go.

A Breakdown of Candle Wax Types

1. Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is the most widely used candle wax today. It’s petroleum-based, inexpensive, and known for its strong scent performance -- which is why it's found in everything from big-box store candles and budget-friendly brands to some luxury brands that prioritize scent throw above all else.

Pros:

Strong Scent Throw: Paraffin holds fragrance exceptionally well, giving you a powerful hot and cold throw -- ideal if you want a bold, room-filling scent.
More Affordable: Because paraffin is cheap to produce, candles made with it tend to cost less -- making it a go-to option for shoppers who prioritize price.

Cons:

Shorter Burn Time: Paraffin burns faster than natural waxes like soy, coconut, or beeswax -- which means you'll go through candles more quickly and may end up buying replacements more often.
More Soot and Smoke: Paraffin tends to produce more soot, which can create black rings around your jar and contribute to indoor air pollution -- especially in smaller, enclosed spaces.
Not Eco-Friendly: Since paraffin is a fossil fuel–based wax derived from crude oil, it's non-renewable and contributes to carbon emissions. It also doesn’t break down naturally, making it a less sustainable option for those trying to reduce their environmental impact

Sincerely Sunday’s Take: While not the cleanest option, paraffin delivers big on scent -- which is why it’s so popular. If you’re looking for a strong scented candle on a budget, this is a great option. Just keep in mind: the money you save might go toward replacing your candles more often.

2. Soy Wax

Soy wax is a natural, plant-based wax made from soybeans, and it’s one of the most common alternatives to paraffin. It’s often chosen for its cleaner burn, longer lifespan, and renewable origin, making it a go-to for people who care about both performance and environmental impact.

Pros:

Plant-Based and Renewable: Made from soybeans, soy wax is a natural alternative to petroleum-based waxes and appeals to those looking for a more sustainable option.
Slow Burning: Soy wax burns up to 30–50% longer than paraffin, meaning you’ll enjoy your candle for more hours and get more value for your money.
Clean Burning: Soy wax produces less soot, so your candle jar (and your indoor air) stays cleaner with every burn.
Accessible and Affordable: As one of the most widely used natural waxes, soy is available across many price points, making it a cost-friendly upgrade from paraffin.

Cons:

Lighter Scent Throw: Compared to paraffin, soy wax has a lighter scent throw, which may not fill a large room as easily, though this can be improved by blending with other waxes.
Environmental Concerns: While soy is renewable, it’s often linked to deforestation and pesticide-heavy farming, particularly in areas like the Amazon. Over 80% of global soy production is grown on industrial-scale farms that can have serious environmental consequences.

Sincerely Sunday’s Take: Soy wax strikes a good balance between performance and price. It’s ideal for those looking for a cleaner burn with a longer life, even if the scent isn’t quite as bold.

3. Coconut Wax

Coconut wax is made from the meat of coconuts and is considered one of the cleanest and most sustainable candle waxes available. It’s naturally smooth-burning, has excellent fragrance retention, and is often blended with other waxes (like soy) to improve texture and performance.

Although it’s less common than soy or paraffin, coconut wax is gaining popularity for its premium quality and eco-friendly profile.

Pros:

Clean Burning: Coconut wax produces minimal soot and smoke, making it one of the cleanest waxes to burn indoors -- great for both your space and your air quality.
Slow Burning: Like other natural waxes, coconut burns slowly and evenly, so you get more hours out of every candle.
Strong Scent Throw: Coconut wax holds and releases fragrance exceptionally well, delivering a rich cold and hot throw that can easily fill a room
Biodegradable: As a natural, plant-derived wax, coconut wax breaks down harmlessly over time, unlike petroleum-based waxes.

Cons:

Expensive: Candles made with coconut wax tend to be more expensive than those made with soy or paraffin due to limited supply and higher production costs.

Sincerely Sunday’s Take: Coconut wax offers a clean burn, strong scent throw, and long-lasting performance -- making it popular for premium candles. Our Deconstructed Candles use a coconut-soy wax blend, giving you the best of both worlds: a slow burn and a scent throw that fills the room beautifully.

4. Beeswax

Beeswax is one of the oldest candle materials, naturally produced by honeybees. It’s prized for its purity and unique properties, making it a favorite for those who want an all-natural, toxin-free candle experience.

Pros:

All-Natural and Non-Toxic: Beeswax is completely natural and free from harmful chemicals, making it a healthy choice for indoor use.
Air-Purifying: When burned, beeswax releases negative ions that can help neutralize pollutants and improve air quality.
Slow Burning: Beeswax candles burn slowly and steadily, giving you more hours of light and fragrance.

Cons:

Expensive: Beeswax is one of the most expensive candle waxes, reflecting its natural sourcing and labor-intensive production.
Natural Honey Scent: It has a subtle honey aroma that can sometimes compete with added fragrance oils, which might affect the overall scent experience.
Not Vegan: Since it’s produced by bees, beeswax is not suitable for vegan lifestyles.

Sincerely Sunday’s Take: Beeswax is perfect if you want a pure, traditional candle with natural air-purifying benefits. It’s best suited for those who enjoy lighter, subtler scents or prefer a more natural aroma.

5. Wax Blends

This is where the real magic happens. Wax blends combine different types of waxes to create a candle that balances the best qualities of each. By blending waxes, candle makers can customize performance to achieve the perfect mix of clean burn, strong scent throw, slow burning, and affordability.

Many premium candle brands rely on unique wax blends to deliver their signature experience -- whether that’s a candle that fills the room with fragrance, burns evenly without soot, or offers great value.

In short, wax blends let you enjoy the best of all worlds in one candle, tailored for a truly exceptional burn.

Sincerely Sunday’s Take: If you ask us, wax blends are the best option because no single wax excels at everything. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses, but by blending them, brands can craft a candle perfectly tailored to their unique needs and deliver the ideal balance of performance, quality, and price.

We were in that exact same situation and that’s why we developed our candle refill kits using a proprietary coconut-soy blend. It gives you the best of both worlds: a clean, slow burn paired with a rich, room-filling scent throw. We weren’t satisfied with off-the-shelf waxes, so we crafted one we truly believe in.